Stuttgart offers a range of highlights for a stay: world-famous architecture, automotive history, museums, green spaces and wine culture. Stuttgart TV Tower was the world’s first television tower made of reinforced concrete. It is just over 217 metres tall and has an observation deck and dining options. In good weather, the view from the tower platform and panoramic café extends as far as the Swabian Alb. Here, an architectural landmark meets a specific vantage point.

Automotive History, Art and Architecture

The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen showcases more than 80 vehicles and 200 small exhibits. Visitors can get a special insight into the work involved in preserving historic vehicles: through a glass panel, they can watch specialists repair them. The Mercedes-Benz Museum focuses on different aspects. Opened in 2006, it displays 160 vehicles and more than 1,500 exhibits across nine exhibition levels. Two routes lead through the collection: the first includes seven “Mythos Rooms,” the second five “Collection Rooms.” The building itself is worth a closer look: its interior is modelled on a DNA double helix, with neither enclosed rooms nor straight walls.

The StadtPalais focuses on the city’s history. The Museum for Stuttgart opened in 2018 in the former Wilhelmspalais and offers a permanent exhibition on the city’s history, special exhibitions and events. On Schlossplatz, the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart’s striking glass cube houses the city’s art collection, including works by Willi Baumeister, Fritz Winter, Adolf Hölzel and Otto Dix. If you are interested in broader art-historical connections, the Staatsgalerie features European art from the 14th to the 20th century, as well as the American avant-garde after 1945.

The history of architecture extends beyond individual museum buildings. Schloss Solitude was built between 1763 and 1769 for Duke Carl Eugen as a hunting and pleasure palace. Since 2016, Le Corbusier’s two houses in the Weissenhof Estate have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside other buildings by the architect; the semi-detached house has been restored true to the original. These different destinations let you shape the cultural part of your stay according to your interests, from vehicles and design to urban history and architecture.

Green Spaces, Views and Stairways

The Grüne U is a prominent starting point for exploring green spaces: this eight-kilometre-long, U-shaped green corridor runs from Stuttgart city centre to Killesberg Park. In Rosenstein Park, you can stroll among native and exotic trees across 100 hectares and use the lawns for picnics. The park is a protected historic site. If you want to focus on views and changes in elevation, explore the Stäffele. Stuttgart has more than 400 of these outdoor stairways, as they are called in Swabian; they connect the valley basin with the slopes and offer views over the valley.

Another viewpoint is the 42-metre-high Killesberg Tower. Its four platforms are at heights of 8, 16, 24 and 31 metres and offer views over Stuttgart and the Neckar Valley. The Bismarck Tower also offers a viewpoint, but with a clear seasonal restriction: between Easter and the end of October, visitors can climb the 92 steps to the platform every weekend and enjoy panoramic views over the Neckar Valley. If you are planning this climb for a particular visit, check the latest visitor information in advance.

Wilhelma combines a zoo and botanical garden and, according to the city, is the only facility of its kind in Germany. It is home to around 1,200 animal species and more than 8,500 different plant species and varieties. A visit there is therefore very different from a tour of the city’s art and history museums, adding a distinct option to your travel plans.

Market Hall and Wine Culture

Stuttgart’s Market Hall is a culinary meeting place for locals and tourists and has been a protected historic site since 1972. Its offerings include fruit and vegetables, sausages and meat, spices and flowers. The Weindorf adds a seasonal event to this selection: it has been held every year since 1974, from late August to early September. At the Hocketse, regional dishes and wine are served; visitors can sample hundreds of wines from Baden-Württemberg, and traditional Swabian dishes are also available.

Two different details are useful for planning your schedule: the Bismarck Tower can be climbed on weekends between Easter and the end of October, while the Weindorf takes place from late August to early September. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the specific dates for your chosen year. Another feature of the city is Stuttgart’s mineral baths, which are fed by springs officially recognised as therapeutic springs.

Discover More Destinations

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